Mum’s the word for Claudio Ranieri!

The charming and avuncular Leicester City manager, who has been an also-ran four times in his coaching career, is missing the game that might determine his first ever title win. Why? Because the Italian “Fox” wants to have lunch with his 96-year-old mother.

Leicester will beat 5000-1 odds to become Premier League champions if Tottenham Hotspur lose to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday.

But if that happens Ranieri, 64, says he’ll be the last to know, because when the game kicks off he’ll be on a plane flying back from Italy after spending the day with his mom. Aww.

“I’d like to watch the match tomorrow, but I think I’m on a flight back from Italy so it’s difficult for me to watch the match,” said Ranieri today after his Foxes drew 1-1 against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

“My mother is 96 years old and I would like to have a lunch with her,” he said. Of the London derby’s result, he said, “I will be the last man in England to know.”